macalpine



R. T. M ALPlNE PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets- Sheet 1INVENTOR.

RODE T MACALPINE Attorney March 3, 1964 Filed Feb. 4, 1963 4 w. M 0 v 5March 1964 R. T. M ALPINE 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 2Inventor RODERICK T. MACA PINE Attorney March 3, 1964 R MacA PI E3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventor RODERIyZ MACALPINE Attorney March 3, 1964 MMALPINE 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Inventor CK T. MACALPINE RODERI Attorney March 3, 1964 R. T. M ALPlNE3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 68 nn T I A FIG. 8

' I I/ I, u=- .--m in 1 m I 170 720 I I 1/709 707 W: i 70% Y I I I :14

Inventor RODERICK T MACALPINE ttorne y United States Patent 3,123,249PURTAELE gHAFT fiiNKmG ASSEMBLY Roderick Thompson MacAlpine, RR. 3,Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 255,934 8Claims. ((11. 214-709) This invention relates to a portable machinewhich can be used for excavation work in general but which isparticularly adapted for sinking mining shafts, caissons and the like.

Machines for excavating mine shafts, caissons and the like are wellknown and are widely used in the earth and rock moving industries. Therehas been developed, in the past few years, a machine of the telescopicboom type comprised of a fixed boom section mounted at one end to afixed member for universal movement in respect thereto, and having atelescopic section slidably mounted therein and adapted to be extendedfrom and retracted into the free end of the fixed boom section. Materialcollecting, carrying and discharging means, such as a bucket, is carriedon the free end of the telescopic section. This type of excavatingmachine is fully disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,666,679,2,781,- 140 and 2,949,201. This machine is ideally suited for use as amucking machine in sinking mine shafts.

I have found that the principles embodied in this type of machine can beemployed with a portable frame assembly which includes a novel skiphoisting system for such purposes as the sinking of shallow mine shafts,wells, trenches, caissons and the like.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the instant invention toprovide a portable machine for sinking mine shafts, caissons and thelike which is in the form of an integrated headframe, mucking machineand skip hoisting system which can be readily transported by a drawn ora self-propelled vehicle which, when in place, serves as a mounting forthe headframe, mucking machine and skip hoisting system, the muckinmachine being adapted to be lowered into and raised out of its operativepositions within the shaft and the skip hoisting system being operativewithin the headframe and shaft with a minimum of ancillary aids.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aportable shaft sinking machine which can be easily transported fromplace to place and which eliminates the necessity of erecting apermanent headframe structure the sinking of shallow mining shafts,wells, trenches, caissons and the like.

Essentially, the invention is achieved by the provision of an elongatedframe having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted forlongitudinal movement within said elongated frame of width less thanthat of said elongated frame and positioned at one side of saidelongated frame, a space between said second frame and the other side ofsaid elongated frame, a mucking machine carried by said second frame andextending 1ongitudinally thereof and adapted for universal movement inrelation thereto, means for moving said movable frame longitudinallywith respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extendinglongitudinally through said space between said second frame and saidother side of said elongated frame, a crosshead releasably securable tocross members carried by the lower end of said second frame andextending therefrom into said space, a skip carried below said crossheadby said skip hoistingmeans, means for releasably securing said skip tosaid crosshead means in the upper part of said elongated frame forupsetting said skip and discharging the corn tents thereof, and meansfor pivotally connecting said elongated frame to a movable carrier. 7 I

An understanding of the present invention can be obtained from thefollowing description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the portable shaft sinking machine ofthis invention erected in its operative position; g g

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, in more detail, of the mucking machineillustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3' is a perspective view, partly out awa of the main hoisting andancillary equipment located in the head'frame;

FIGURE 4' is a perspective view of the skip and crosshead assembly in anoperative position;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the crosshead in its operative positionillustrated in FIGURE 4 showing the spaced relation of the crosshead andframe 19;

FIGURE 6 is a side View of the crosshead, partially cut away, showing,in greater detail, the arrangement and disposition of the various partsof the latching mechanism with the crosshead in a stationary supportedposition;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the crosshead, partially cut away, showingthe arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the latchingmechanism with crosshead and skip locked together for travel in avertical plane up or down the frame;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on lines 88 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the crosshead with crosshead and skip' inthe engaged position; and

FIGURE 10 is a section taken on lines 1d1l of FIG- URE 7.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout, the numeral l6 generally designates theheadfr'ame structure of the invention, which is in the form of anelongated frame having'side members 11, cross members 12 andlongitudinal frame members 13'. Headframe 10 is held in a verticalposition by support members 14- and I5, which are removable to permitthe headframe It to be pivoted about axis X-X defined by pivots l6 and17 to dispose headframe' 10 in a horizontal position on carrier 18 fortrans port purposes.

Mounted in frame 10 is a movable frame structure 19 which is movablelongitudinally within frame iii. A mucldng machine 2%, as shown in moredetail by FIG- URE 2, is carried by the frame 19 and is adapted foruniversal movement in respect thereto. The mucking machine 26 is of thetelescopic boom type and comprises a fixed boom section 25 which issecured, at one end, to frame 19 for controlled universal movement inrespect thereto by means of cylinders 26, 27 and 28. A telescopic boomsection 29 is slidably connected to the free end of section 25 forretraction thereinto and extension therefrom. Telescopic section 29carries bucket means 3d at its free end and may, for purposes ofexample, have two mating half sections 31 and 32 pivotally connected at33 controlled by cylinders 34 and 35. The various movements of the boomsections and Z9 and bucket means 36 are achieved by the selectiveintroduction of air or hydraulic fluid under pressure into the pistonand cylinder assemblies indicated above. Lever members in the operatorscompartment 36 in movable frame 19 are adapted to permit manual controlof the various movements of the boom and bucket. The structure andoperation of the telescopic boom type mucking machine is fully disclosedin United States Patent No. 2,781,140.

In order to raise and lower frame 19' for working within a mine shaft, adrum hoist 41 driven by motor .2 is mounted on platform 46 at the top ofheadframe 1t). Hoisting cable 44 wound on drum hoist 41 is secured atits lower end to a reinforcing member 4-5 at the top of frame 19, as isillustrated by FIGURE 5. Hoist 41 can, of course, be locked to positionframe 19 vertically at any desired level within the shaft by means ofdisc or drum brakes or the like locking mechanisms well known in theart.

Frame 19 is adapted to accommodate, for travel substantially parallelwith and independently of frame 19, a skip 47. The skip hoisting andcontrolling apparatus comprises a pair of guide cables 48 and 49' whichare provided to prevent rotation or swinging of skip 47 in its verticaltravel within the shaft. As illustrated by FIGURES 3 and 4, drum hoists513 and 51, driven by motor 52 through differential 53 at the top of theheadframe provide equal tension to guide cables 48 and 49 which areanchored to cross beams 54 and 55 projecting from frame .19. Cables 53and 49 are thus adapted to support a portion of the weight of movableframe 19 which carries mucking machine 29 and in so doing are maintainedunder tension to function as guide wires for the travel of the skip.

Main hoisting cable 56, controlled by hoist 57 and driving motor 58positioned at the top of headframe 10- on platform 43, is secured at itslower end to bridle 59 by connector 60. A pair of guide sleeves 61-62 isformed in the opposite ends of bridle 59 for slidable travel on guidecables 48-49.

Crosshead '63 is disposed below bridle 59' and carried in the samevertical plane as said bridle by' means of guide sleeves 64-55 formed inthe opposite ends of the crosshead for slidable travel on guide cables48-49. The crosshead is connected to the bridle by means of a pair ofhoisting cables 66-67 secured at their upper ends to a member 68 ofcrosshead 63 as designated by numerals 69-76 and passing over pulleys71-72 pivotally secured below bridle 59 to pass downwardly through guidesleeves 73-74 formed integral with the crosshead and detent mechanismdescribed in detail hereinbelow. The lower ends 75-76 of cables as-a7connected to arms 77-78 of skip 47 as indicated, thus permitting avarying spaced relationship between bridle 59, crosshead 63 and skip 47,as will also be described hereinbelow.

Shoulders 80-81 formed integral with the opposite ends of crosshead 63are adapted to abut cross beams 54-55 as the skip-crosshead assembly islowered in the shaft. A latching mechanism contained by the crosshead isactuated by its abutment with the cross beams 54-55 to extend latches82-83 laterally below cross beams 54-55 to lock the cross beam fromvertical movement of the shaft. Concurrent with the extension of latches82-33, a second latching mechanism for engaging torpedo stops 84-35carried by cables 66-67 and pin 86 carried by member &7 is releasedallowing the skip to be disengaged from the crosshead for lowering tothe bottom of the shaft for loading.

In more detail, as illustrated by FIGURE 4 and FIG- URES 6 through 10,the crosshead 63 comprises an elongated rectangular housing 38 whichcarries shoulders 80-81 at each end adapted to engage lateral supportmembers 54-55. In its shoulder engaging position,

crosshead 63 is restrained from vertical movement in either direction bymeans of upper support shoulders 39-81 of housing 88, which bear uponmembers 54-55, and by means of retractable latches til-d3 which, intheir extended position, underlie support members 5 55, as shown.Support members 54-55 are preferably extensions of frame 19 as describedhereinabove.

In the particular crosshead embodiment herein described, a main pivotalmember 89 is rotatably mounted in housing 8 8 intermediate the endsthereof. As shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 9, wheel 89 is provided with aclaw member 99, rigidly mounted thereon, the purpose of which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds. Also mounted on wheel 89 isa pin 91 which projects through, and is adapted to travel in, arcuateslot 92 formed in sidewall 93 of housing 88.

A pair of L-shaped trip arms 94 and 95 are mounted on sidewall 93, theouter ends of which are substantially co-extensive with supportshoulders Sit-81 of housing 88. Adjacent their outer ends, trip arms94-95 are each pivotally mounted in a pair of rollers 96-97. The innerL-shaped ends of arms 94 and 95 overlie one another and are providedwith elongated slots 98 which are aligned with slot 92 and are adaptedto accommodate pin 91 for slidable travel therein.

The outer ends of trip arms 94 and 95, as shown in more detail in FIGURE6, are undercut to define inwardly and upwardly inclinedsupport-engaging surfaces 99-1116, the purpose of which will bedescribed hereinafter.

Retractable latches 82-83 are mounted on wheels 1%1-192 for travel alongrails 103-1114. Latches 82- 83 are also provided, at their outer, uppercorners, with rollers 1115-10 6 which facilitate travel of the latchesalong the undersurfaces of members 54-55. Latches 82-83 are connected towheel *89 by means of connecting links 107-1118 which are pivotallysecured to latches 82-83 at 189-111 and to wheel 89' at substantiallydiametrically opposed points 111-112 adjacent the periphery thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 9, latches 32-33 are provided with openings 113-114-which permit the passage of cable 66 67 therethrough. The width ofopenings 113-114 is a maximum at the inner ends of latches 82-83 andgradually tapers to a minimum width, as shown, towards the centre of thelatches. The purpose of this configuration is desrcibed hereinbelow.

An actuating lever for the crosshead mechanism, generally designated byreference numeral 115, is mounted on the lower part of housing 88 andcomprises a pair of elongated members 116-117 pivotally mounted on thesidewalls of housing 88 at 118-119. A shaft 125) extending between thefree ends of members 116-117 is adapted to rotatably support a roller129a between the side walls of housing 88. A link 12.1 is pivotallymounted at one end on shaft 121) and at its other end on wheel 89 at122. The operation of actuating mechanism is also described in detailhereinbelow.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, a conventional skip 47, preferably ofrectangular conformation, as shown, is suspended from crosshead 63 bymeans of a pair of cables 66-67, which are rigidly anchored at one endto member 68 of crosshead 63 as at 69-7-11. Cables 66-67 pass overpulleys 71-72 carried by bridle 59, through guideways 73-74 in crosshead63 and apertures 113- 114 in latches 82-83, and are rigidly secured, attheir lower ends, to pivotal connections 123-124 on skip sup port arms77-78.

Cables 66-67 are provided with torpedo stops i l-S5 rigidly mountedthereon adjacent pivotal connections 123-124. As shown in FIGURE 7,housing 63 embodies a pair of torpedo cavities 127-128 aligned withguideways 73-74 and located intermediate of latches 82-83 and guideways73-74. Cavities 127 -12 5 are of a size and conformation adapted toaccommodate torpedo stops 84-85 and to restrain them from further upwardmovement relative to crosshead as.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a crossmember 87 is rigidly mounted, at its ends,adjacent the upper ends of skip support arms '77-'78 and at a sufficientheight above skip 79 to permit the skip to be freely pivoted about axisYY on pivotal mountings 129. A stud $6 carried on crossmember 87substantially centrally thereof has a locking pin 13% slidably mountedon the tip thereof. Locking pin 130 may, if desired, be spring loaded,as shown, to urge the pin into its normally extended position.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, a socket 131 is formed within housing 83,with which stud 86 on member $57 is aligned. Socket 131 is adapted toreceive locking pin 13% when the skip is raised to abut the underside ofcrosshead 63. With particular reference to FEGURE 7, locking pin 130 andtorpedo stops 53 -35 are mounted in a spaced relationship such that whenlocking pin 13% has reached its position of accommodation within socket131, stops 34-85 will have passed through apertures 113-114 of latches82-83 and have been accommodated within torpedo cavities 127-128.

In operation, the raising and lowering of skip 4'7 beneath lateralsupport member 54-55 is achieved by main hoisting cable 56 raising orlowering bridle 59 and thereby acting through pulleys 71-72 and cables66-67 while crosshead 63 is being held stationary on support members3-55 between support shoulders ti l-S1 and extended retractable latches82-83. Crosshead 63 is held in this position until skip 47 is raisedfrom a position below the crosshead to the point where cros'srnember 87contacts roller 129a. As the upward movement of skip 47 proceeds,crosshead 63 being held stationary, roller 120a and shaft 12% approachhousing 38, causing wheel 89 to be rotatably displaced in the directionof the arrow X in response to the motion imparted to it by link 121mounted on shaft 124 while pin 91 on wheel 89 travels upwardly in slot92. Approximately halfway through its travel in slot 92, pin fi lengages the upper ends of elongated slots 98 in trip arms 94-?5 carryingthe inner ends of said trip arms in an upward direction causing them torotate about rollers 96-97 adjacent their respective outer ends untilthey have reached a' substantially horizontal position, as shown inFIGURE 7. As trip arms 94-95 are being thus urged to a horizontalposition, retractable latches (Q-$3 are retracted in response to themotion imparted to them through connecting linkage 157-108 until theyare clear of supports 54-55, thereby releasing crosshead 63 for upwardtravel.

Simultaneous with the release of crosshead 63 from engagement withcrosshead supports 54-55, the skip is engaged with the crosshead, asshown in FIGURES 7 and 9. That is, when locking pin 13d has reached itsposition of accommodation within socket 13 torpedo stops lid-$5 willhave cleared latches 82-83 and have been received within torpedocavities 127-128. Meanwhile, latches 82-83 will have been retracted to aposition where the reduced diameter of tapered openings 113-114effectively locks torpedo stops 84-85 in place and claw member 9% onwheel 89 will have been rotatably displaced to a position underlyinglocking pin 130, thereby effectively locking the crosshead and skiptogether at three points, such that the skip and crosshead arepositively coupled together for travel in an upward direction in theshaft above supports 54-55.

As mentioned hereinbefore with reference to FIG- URE 3, guide cables48-4? tensioned by motor 52 through differential mechanism 53 and woundon drum hoists 50-51 provide a stabilizing and guiding influence on thebridle and crosshead to prevent rotation or swinging of the skip as ittravels in the shaft. Ratchet control mechanisms 133 are provided ondrum hoists Ell-51 to prevent slippage of cables 48-459 and to ensurethat the tension in said cables is substantially equalized.

Upon reaching the headframe, bridle 59 and crosshead 63 are received inthe upper portion of the headframe. Guide shoes 134 carried by skip 47are engaged by guide rails carried by the headframe to maintain skiparms 77-78 and the guide shoes 134 in vertical alignment. Followers135-136 are adapted to engage curved channels 137-138 of scroll plates139 such that as the skip is raised past the scroll plates, the upperportion of the skip is deflected outwardly by the scroll plates causingthe skip to pivot about axis Y-Y at the base thereof upsetting itscontents into a discharge chute. The skip is then lowered to the base ofthe shaft for reloading of the skip by the mucking machine.

Upon reaching the lowermost timber set, trip arms 9&- come into contactwith supports 54-55 and, by virtue of the upwardly and inwardly inclinedsurfaces 94a, trip arms 94-95 are caused to pivot about rollers 96-97urging the inner ends of said trip arms in a downward direction causingpin 91', in turn, to be forced downwardly in slot 532, thereby causingwheel 89 to be rotatably displaced in the direction of the arrow Y. Atthe same time, latches 82-83, by virtue of linkages ltl'T-llbd, aremoved to their extended positions underlying supports 54-55, engagingthe crosshead therewith and simultaneously freeing torpedo stops id-"Sfor downward travel through openings 113-114. Also, claw member 9% onwheel 39 is rotatably displaced with the wheel, freeing locking pin 13%on stud 86 for downward travel.

Skip l7 may then be lowered to the base of the mine shaft for loadingand the hoisting operation is then repeated.

The portable headframe can be quickly and readily moved from location tolocation. For transportation, the mucking machine and skip assembly areeach hoisted into the main headframe iii and anchored in place. Supportarms 14-15 are disengaged from the bed of the support vehicle and theheadframe pivoted about axis X-X until it lies horizontally on thevehicle bed.

The present invention possesses a number of important advantages. Theportable headframe can be quickly and readily set up or taken down andmoved from shaft site to shaft site. The undesirable time consumptionand the costs of preparing the site for a headframe and erecting aheadframe thereon are substantially obviated. The speed at which a shaftis sunk is further increased over conventional methods in that themucking and hoisting equipment is continually advanced to the workingface and expeditiously employed regardless of the presence or absence ofshaft timbering. The apparatus is positive and substantiallytrouble-free in operation, enhancing safety considerations in shaftsinking operations.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in thepreferred embodiment of the invention described and illustrated hereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention defined bythe'appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A portable excavating machine comprising an elongated frame havingside members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinalmovement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of saidelongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side ofsaid elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame andadapted for universal movement in relation thereto, means for movingsaid second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame,skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space betweensaid second frame and said side of said elongated frame, a crossheadreleasably securable to a cross member of said elongated frame, a skipcarried by said skip hoisting means below said crosshead, meansforreleasabiy securing said skip to said crosshead, means-in the upperpart of said elongated frame are-sass for upsetting said skip, and meansfor pivotally connecting said elongated frame to a transportablecarrier.

2. The portable excavating machine claimed in claim 1 in which saidmucking machine comprises a telescopic boom having a first sectionconnected at one end to said second frame and capable of universalmovement in respect thereto, a telescopic section slidably carried bysaid first section and mounted for retraction into and extension fromsaid first section, bucket means carried by the free end of saidtelescopic section and operator controlled fluid means for retractingand extending said telescopic section and for ctuating said bucketmeans.

3. The portable excavating machine claimed in claim 1 in which saidmeans for upsetting said skip comprise a scroll plate having guidechannels thereton, said channels being adapted to accommodate followermembers on said skip for slidable travel therealong.

4. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising anelongated frame having side members and cross members, a second framemounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a widthless than that of said elongated frame defining a space between saidsecond frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machinemounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement inrelation thereto, means for moving said second frame longitudinally withrespect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extendinglongitudinally through said space between said second frame and saidside of said elongated frame, cross members carried by said second frameadapted to project into said space, a crosshead having latching means soconstructed and arranged as to permit positive, automatic lockedengagement of the crosshead with the projecting cross members, a skipdisposed below said crosshead, means for automatically coupling saidskip to said crosshead for travel together in the shaft above saidprojecting cross members and for releasing said latch means fromengagement with said cross members on contact of the skip with saidcrosshead in raising the skip, and means for automatically releasingsaid skip from engagement with said crosshead and for engagement of saidlatch means with said support means when the crosshead contacts saidsupport means in its downward travel.

5. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising anelongated frame having side members and cross members, a second framemounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a widthless than that of said elongated frame defining a space between saidsecond frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machinemounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement inrelation thereto, means for moving said second frame longitudinally withrespect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extendinglongitudinally through said space between said second frame and saidside of said elongated frame, cross members carried by said second frameadapted to project into said space, a skip, a crosshead, guiding meansextending from the upper extremity of said shaft to said second frameprojecting cross members for guiding and stabilizing the travel of thecrosshead within the shaft, means carried by the crosshead for engagingsaid projecting cross members in positive locked engagement and forsimultaneously disengaging the skip from the crosshead when thecrosshead contacts said cross members in its downward travel, means forlowerin the skip to the bottom of the shaft and for raising the skip tothe crosshead, and means actuable by the contact of the skip with thecrosshead on the upward motion of the skip for disengaging the crossheadfrom its locked engagement with the cross members while simultaneouslypositively coupling the skip with the crosshead for travel together inthe shaft.

6. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising anelongated frame having side members and cross members, a second framemounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a widthless than that of said elongated frame defining a space between saidsecond frame and side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mountedon said second frame and adapted for universal movement in relationthereto, 1621113 for moving said second frame longitudinally withrespect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extendinglongitudinally through said space between said second frame and saidside of said elongated frame, a pair of support members carried by saidsecond frame adapted to project into said space, a cable anchored toeach support member and extending therefrom to the top of said shaft,means for tensioning said cables, a bridle having guide sleeves formedat opposite ends thereof adapted to slidably receive said cables, cansfor securing said hoisting cable to said bridle, a crosshead disposedbelow said bridle, guide sleeves formed in the opposite ends of saidcrosshead for slidably receiving said guide cables, a pair of pulleysmounted on said bridle, a pair of cables secured at one end to saidcrosshead extending over said pulleys and through said pair of guidesleeves, a skip disposed below said crosshead, means for connecting saidskip to the lower ends of the pair of cables, means for positivelyengaging the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for traveltogether in the guided portions of the shaft, locking means carried bythe crosshead actuable by abutment of the crosshead in its downwardtravel with the support members for engaging said support members inpositive locked engagement and for simultaneously disengaging the skipfrom the crosshead for lowering and raising of the skip to and from thebottom of the shaft, means actuable by the upward motion of the skiprelative to the crosshead for releasing said locking means fromengagement with said support members while simultaneously positivelycoupling the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for travel inthe shaft opening above said support members.

7. A portable excavating machine for use in sinking a shaft comprisingan elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second framemounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a Widthless than that of said elongated frame defining a space between saidsecond frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machinemounted on said second frame, said mucking machine having a first section connected to one end of said second frame capable of universalmovement in respect thereto and a second telescopic section slidablycarried by said first section mounted for retraction into and extensionfrom said first section, bucket means carried by the free end of saidtelescopic section and operator controlled fiuid means for retractingand extending said telescopic section and for actuating said bucketmeans, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect tosaid elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinallythrough said space between said second frame and said side of saidelongated frame, a pair of support members carried by said second frameadapted to project into said space, a cable anchored to each supportmember and extending therefrom to the top of said shaft, means fortensioning said cables, a bridle having guide sleeves formed at oppositeends thereof adapted to slidably receive said cables, means for securingsaid hoisting cable to said bridle, a crosshead disposed below saidbridle, guide sleeves formed in the opposite ends of said crosshead forslidably receiving said guide cables, a pair of pulleys mounted on saidbridle, a pair of cables secured at one end to said crosshead extendingover said pulleys and through said pair of guide sleeves, a skipdisposed below said crosshead, means for connecting said skip to thelower ends of the pair of cables, means for positively engaging the skipwith the crosshead in locked engagement for travel together in theguided portions of the shaft, locking means carried by the crossheadactuable by abutment of the crosshead in its downward travel with thesupport members for engaging said support members in positive lockedengagement and for simultaneously disengaging the skip from thecrosshead for lowering and raising of the skip to and from the bottom ofthe shaft, means actuable by the upward motion of the skip relative tothe crosshead for releasing said locking means from engagement with saidsupport members while simultaneously positively coupling the skip withthe crosshead in locked engagement for travel in the shaft opening abovesaid support members.

8. A portable excavating machine for use in sinking a shaft comprisingan elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second framemounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a widthless than that of said elongated frame defining a space between saidsecond frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machinemounted on said second frame, means for moving said second framelongitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting meansextending longitudinally through said space between said second frameand said side of said elongated frame, and means for upsetting said skiphaving a scroll plate with guide channels thereon, said channels beingadapted to accommodate follower members on said skip for slidable traveltherealong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS659,970 Horst Oct. 16, 1900 1,272,354 Baker July 16, 1918 1,829,587Fisher Oct. 27, 1931 2,214,288 Starr Sept. 10, 1940 2,316,976 SahlinApr. 20, 1943 2,587,844 Harrison Mar. 4, 1952 2,781,140 Cryderman Feb.12, 1957 2,937,773 Pierce et a1. May 24, 1960

1. A PORTABLE EXCAVATING MACHINE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME HAVINGSIDE MEMBERS AND CROSS MEMBERS, A SECOND FRAME MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINALMOVEMENT WITHIN SAID ELONGATED FRAME OF A WIDTH LESS THAN THAT OF SAIDELONGATED FRAME DEFINING A SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND FRAME AND A SIDE OFSAID ELONGATED FRAME, A MUCKING MACHINE MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND FRAME ANDADAPTED FOR UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT IN RELATION THERETO, MEANS FOR MOVINGSAID SECOND FRAME LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELONGATED FRAME,SKIP HOISTING MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID SPACE BETWEENSAID SECOND FRAME AND SAID SIDE OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME, A CROSSHEADRELEASABLY SECURABLE TO A CROSS MEMBER OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME, A SKIPCARRIED BY SAID SKIP HOISTING MEANS BELOW SAID CROSSHEAD, MEANS FORRELEASABLY SECURING SAID SKIP TO SAID CROSSHEAD, MEANS IN THE UPPER PARTOF SAID ELONGATED FRAME FOR UPSETTING SAID SKIP, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLYCONNECTING SAID ELONGATED FRAME TO A TRANSPORTABLE CARRIER.